My Farmor ( My Grandmother)
Johanne Marie Christine Petersen

My grandmother Johanne was born 24 Maj 1880 in Gørslev, Baarse Herred, Prœstø Amt, Danmark.  She was named after her grandmother on her Fathers side Johanne Marie Andersdatter.

Johanne and Hans Peter Madsen were married 2 March 1902 (6 months after my Dad was born). in Gjørslev, Bjœverskov, Prœstø, Danmark, where my Dad was born.

My Dad Lars Vilhelm Henry Madsen  was the first child born 5 September 1901.

Johanne’s parents Rasmus Petersen and Kristine Hansen were the “high society” in town.

He was a Bricklayer and helped build the church in Gørslev.

My grandfather Hans Peter Madsen lived in Klippede Mark, Nordrupøster Parish and worked as “Blacksmith in training” in Solrød, when he met Johanne. 

But my grandfather Hans Peter Madsen was “running around with women” and my grandmother Johanne wanted a divorce. At that time, it took three years and a “Royal Permission to get divorced. She applied for divorce in 1908 and were divorced 13 Juni 1911.

Johanne was left behind with the three boys and was very poor. Nevertheless, she was a very resourceful woman and managed to raise those three boys on her own.

Her son Richard said Johanne sent him to the butcher for free meat bones. Johanne would cook soup on them and after that her and the kids would then remove all the meat and sell the bones to the bone meal factory.

Hans Peter’s parents helped as much as they could. They were sending potatoes and carrots etc. to Johanne for her to survive – besides paying the 40 kroners a month to Johanne that their son was supposed to pay. They were not very happy with their son Hans Peter Madsen’s behavior.

Johanne at that time lived on Jernbanegade 50, Roskilde where she survived by doing laundry for people.

ANOTHER CHILD

Just before first world (1914-18) war Johanne fell in love with a German Soldier by the name Otto (or Oscar?).  She got pregnant and had a girl on 25 Sep 1913: Else Helen Ingeborg Madsen who was born in Roskilde.

Johanne was supporting her four children with a laundry business.  She washed and ironed clothes for people. She was a very resourceful woman.

Johanne was a person who cared a lot about her kids and grandchildren and she gave a helping hand where it was needed. After the 2nd world war Johanne would take the boat to Sweden and bring bananas and coconut macaroons back home to her children and grandchildren in Denmark.

My grandmother Johanne was a great cook I loved her “frikadeller” the Danish meatballs that all Danes love.

One thing I remember she was always sitting in her rocking chair.

Johanne owned or managed several stores in her life. She had a double-store in Trepkasgade, where she also lived. She had a grocery store in one side and a dairy in the other side. After she sold the store in Trepkasgade she managed a Cigar store in Ny Østergade. That was around 1933. Later she got a little summerhouse by Kløvermarken, which she took care of

.

Johanne worked hard until she went on pension and moved to a senior building, which she regretted very much, but she spent a lot of her time to visit the family.

My Farmor Johanne Marie died 1 Feb 1956 in Sundby, Copenhagen

Vibeke Lindhardt

20 March 2017